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Swimming With Friendliest Whales in the Great Barrier Reef 🐋 Expedition Drenched Season 2 Ep 13

August 29, 2021 · 16 min · 34K views · Ribbon Reef, Great Barrier Reef

What this video covers

The crew of the sailboat Sylphia encounters dwarf minke whales at the Ribbon Reef in the Great Barrier Reef, Australia.5:44 These whales aggregate in this location for six to eight weeks annually, and the crew attracts them by running the boat's engine and compressor, which emit vibrations the whales appear to favor.1:30 To interact with the animals, the crew uses a stern line as a tether while floating at the surface, allowing the whales to approach voluntarily without being touched or chased.4:50 The crew also encounters a pod of bottlenose dolphins during the same period.12:26 While anchored, the crew performs emergency maintenance on their scuba compressor, which had slowed significantly due to a cracked hose.9:13 They repair the leak using epoxy and a metal zip tie to restore proper air-filling speed.10:48 The experience highlights the importance of self-sufficiency when diving in remote locations and the necessity of respectful, passive observation when interacting with marine wildlife.10:13

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